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Review

"I can't ever let anyone find out that I'm not straight. It would be so humiliating. My friends would hate me. They might even want to beat me up. And my family? I've overheard them. They've said they hate gays, and even God hates gays, too. Gays are bad, and God sends bad boys to hell. It really scares me when they are talking about me."

From Bobby Griffith's diary.

Bobby Griffith was an all-American boy. He was a nice, hardworking suburban boy. He was also gay. His family and his religion told him he was a bad person. Through Bobby' journal and his mother's reminiscences and Leroy Aaron's insight we relive the emotional torment that led Bobby to commit suicide. Prayers for Bobby is the story of a mother who made the transition from praying that her son change to a national crusader for gay and lesbian youth. Mary Griffith's brutal honesty and her ability to accept responsibility for her part in her son's death is truly inspiring. The message here is clear:

Don't let this happen to another child.

"I hope this book will help religious people everywhere face their complicity in the evil way gay and lesbian children have been treated. Perhaps then the religious world can repent, apologize and welcome all our children into the love of God that we proclaim."

The Rev John S. Spong, Bishop of Newark